When computer science major Ava Stephens first arrived at Penn State, she never could have imagined the extent of what she would accomplish, both professionally and athletically, over the course of her four years. From witnessing the Artemis II launch live to winning multiple national titles in figure skating to becoming a TikTok creator, she has done it all.

Stephens has been skating ever since she was a little girl, and carried that same passion when she stepped on campus her freshman year. Since then, she has documented her skating journey through numerous social media platforms. 

She first gained traction on TikTok during her sophomore year after posting a figure skating video tied to a popular trend. Since then, her following has grown to more than 300,000 on TikTok and over 150,000 on Instagram. 

As a college influencer, Stephens has seen countless doors open, allowing her to grow professionally while sharing her journey online. It has also connected her with a supportive community of followers that fuels her motivation.

“Sometimes I feel frustrated with a jump, and I feel like I’m not skating as well as I want to, and then I’ll look at positive comments and see that people think I’m doing great,” Stephens said.

Her social media presence has not only allowed her to showcase her passion for skating, but it’s also led to opportunities with brands she once dreamed of working with, including Garnier and Alani. 

Beyond brand partnerships, her platform has opened doors to unique experiences, including attending the Artemis II launch live and contributing to NASA’s Artemis program through a summer internship with Boeing.

The opportunity to record and share the launch wouldn’t have been possible without Stephens’ large following, which turned this once-in-a-lifetime moment into something she could document and share with her followers. 

For Stephens, one of the most rewarding aspects of her platform is the people she’s met and the projects that she has been able to be a part of. Her influence has extended beyond her personal success, even helping to grow Penn State’s figure skating program. 

“I’ve heard it’s drawn in a lot of figure skaters to Penn State,” Stephens said. “Our team has grown so much since my sophomore year, and I think some of it might be due to what I am posting.”

Balancing it all has not come easy to Stephens. Even with her demanding course load as a computer science major, Stephens has to prioritize time on the ice, not just for competition, but because her content depends on it. If she is not practicing, she can’t post, which adds another layer of pressure to her already demanding schedule. 

“Being in so many different worlds, and nobody from those worlds fully understanding what it’s like, wearing all of the different hats, which I’m grateful for, can be very hard to balance sometimes,” she said. 

To stay motivated during her sophomore year, Stephens created a study-focused TikTok account, where she posted time-lapses of herself studying and completing assignments. Even with that structure in place, balancing schoolwork with everything else on her plate was often a challenge.

Despite this, Stephens embraced all her roles, including one of her most important: president of the figure skating team. Taking on this role for two years was a feat for Stephens, but one of the most rewarding.

“I really want to set a good example for the rest of the team, be a good role model, and spread positive energy, which is easy to do around my group of girls, because everyone’s so supportive,” she said. 

Even though Stephens is graduating, she will not be leaving skating behind. After graduation, she is moving to Southern California to work on satellites for Boeing, but despite the demands of a full-time job, she plans to continue practicing, performing, and sharing her journey online while setting new goals for herself in the sport. 

“My main focus is my career, but my outlet, and something that fulfills me and makes me happy, is skating,” Stephens said.

Stephens loves sharing her skating with the world, and she still has a bunch of videos that she wants to try filming, especially now that she will have freedom with no classes. Now that she won’t be training and competing, she feels like she has more freedom to film whatever content that she wants. 

While closing this chapter is bittersweet, Stephens is excited about what’s next. Her account isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and while she may not have a set plan for it after graduation, she’s excited to keep posting.